Ann Curry 'not surprised' by Matt Lauer's sexual misconduct allegations

Ann Curry spoke up about the allegations of sexual harassment made against Matt Lauer, saying she was "not surprised" by the accusations and noting that the sexual misconduct reckoning at large is "overdue."

Curry participated in her first television interview since her departure from NBC in 2015 with CBS This Morning on Wednesday, where she was asked about her thoughts on allegations made against Lauer, her departure from NBC News, and the reckoning of powerful men happening across the entertainment industry and beyond.

When asked whether she thought Lauer abused his power, Curry said, "I am not surprised by the allegations," adding that she would be surprised if someone did not see the pervasive verbal sexual harassment at NBC News.

Lauer, who was a host on NBC's Today Show for 20 years, was fired from NBC News in November for alleged inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace, which elicited a handful of specific accusations against him.

Throughout the interview, Curry was speaking carefully, acknowledging that she didn't want to cause anyone harm.

Curry was then asked about when she was let go from NBC after working there for nearly 25 years, given the public perception that Lauer was behind her departure.

"I don't know what was all behind it," Curry said, visibly affected by the question. "I do know that it hurt like hell, it wasn't a fun moment, I've learned a great deal about myself. I've really, at this point, let it go."

Curry then directed her response back to a discussion about men in power abusing that power. When asked about tweeting "#metoo" in October, Curry explained that she doesn't know a single woman who has not endured some form of sexual harassment.

"It has happened to me in many jobs," she said. "It is a way of sidelining women. It's ultimately not only bad for the women, it's bad for the companies, and it's bad for our nation, because it's a limiting of people. Also, we should be talking about the victims. We're talking about the scandal, the scandal, the scandal — what about the victims? What are we going to do to remove the stigma and the shame? What are we going to do to make sure these women work and are not sidelined and prevented from contributing to the greater good that we are all trying to do?"

Curry was asked what it would take to get there, and Curry said it would happen when the glass ceiling was broken and the balance of power between men and women is equal.